Biodynamic agriculture, which has consistently increased in popularity over the years, was born from a single course of eight lectures delivered by Rudolf Steiner in Koberwitz (now in Poland) in June 1924. In The Agriculture Course Peter Selg presents an unprecedented study of the context within which the lectures took place, conveying a tangible sense of the celebratory mood and atmosphere of those Whitsun events. He highlights Steiner's intentions for the course - as well as the parallel lectures he gave in Breslau - by drawing widely on the available literature and numerous archive materials.
At Passiontide 2004, Judith von Halle received the stigmata - the duplication on her body of the wounds of Christ. Following a period of careful consideration, she eventually decided to share this intimate occurrence with a small group in Berlin in Michaelmas of that year. The phenomenon of the stigmata is usually either seen as a sheer miracle or is simply denied. In contrast, in her first lectures here, she attempts to arrive at a clear understanding of it - based on the spiritual scientific knowledge of Rudolf Steiner - and its significance for one’s personal destiny.
Responsible Medicine Based on a Spiritual View of Creation
• Werner Hartinger, MD
Respected surgeon and medical doctor Werner Hartinger investigates the claims and counterclaims concerning experimentation on animals. Through meticulous analysis he comes to the conclusion that animal experiments are not only unnecessary, but that the experiments themselves are questionable and lead to meaningless results. The cruelty imposed upon animals is therefore not only gratuitous, he argues, but is unhelpful in the development of good medicine for human beings.
A Concise Introduction to Rudolf Steiner's Spiritual Philosophy
• Henk van Oort
Rudolf Steiner's work is recognized today largely due to the prominence of the international Steiner school movement, biodynamic agriculture, anthroposophical (holistic) medicine, and so on. However, the comprehensive spiritual philosophy that stands behind these practical initiatives is not so well known. In this concise presentation, based on years of giving introductory courses on the subject, van Oort presents an overview of key aspects of Steiner's thought. He deals with concepts such as body, soul and spirit, the relationship between man and animal, and the evolution of consciousness. The latter subject opens up panoramic vistas of human development in the form of successive cultural periods extending over thousands of years.
The Christological and Cosmic-Human Dimension of The Philosophy of Freedom
• Sergei O. Prokofieff • translated by Maria St. Goar
'I asked Rudolf Steiner: "What will remain of your work thousands of years from now?" He replied: "Nothing but the Philosophy of Freedom. But in it everything else is contained. If one realizes the act of freedom described there, one can discover the whole content of Anthroposophy."' - Walter Johannes Stein
In this unique book, which goes far beyond the usual studies on gender, the authors contend that in ancient times people experienced the divine as being imbued with the 'archetypal feminine'. At that time, the world of spirit was seen to be populated by goddesses, and this perception was reflected in the honouring of women as priestesses and guardians of sacred rites. In contrast, the later Greek and Roman civilizations were largely led by the principle of patriarchy. In more recent times we have seen the political and social emancipation of women, but patriarchal thinking still dominates our culture.
The Italian Renaissance is considered by many to mark the beginning of the modern age, the name itself - literally meaning 'rebirth' - accurately expressing the innovation that took place during this period. Renaissance thinkers took a vital interest in history, literature and the arts, focusing on the human world as much as, if not more than, that of God; and the rapid development of the arts and sciences reflected their study of the visible, physical world in all its three-dimensional glory.
Maria Thun, a pre-eminent expert in biodynamic cultivation methods - sometimes referred to as 'premium organic' - has here compiled over 100 of her best gardening tips based on 50 years’ research.
Maria Thun, a pre-eminent expert in biodynamic cultivation methods - sometimes referred to as "premium organic" - has here compiled over 100 of her best gardening tips based on 50 years' research.
Koberwitz 1924 and the Introduction of Biodynamics
• Compiled and edited by Adalbert Graf von Keyserlingk
In 1924 at Koberwitz, the estate of Count and Countess Keyserlingk, Rudolf Steiner gave a key course of lectures on agriculture. At a time when industrial methods were being introduced into farming, Steiner had a radically different, evolutionary, vision. Based on a revitalized relationship with nature, his approach encompassed knowledge of the cosmos, the elemental world and the earth, and utilized special planting methods and preparations. Today his biodynamic agriculture is widely valued and used around the world.
Born in 1900 in Russia, Valentin Tomberg was for many years an enthusiastic student of Anthroposophy. In 1945, however, he converted to Roman Catholicism and completely turned his back on the former phase of his life. By the time of his death in 1973 he had written two major works Meditations on the Tarot and Covenant of the Heart in which he presents much esoteric knowledge, but now under the spiritual authority of the Catholic Church.
• Dietrich Bauer • Max Hoffmeister • Hartmut Goerg
"When I had been expecting my daughter for five months, I had a dream. I saw the face of an embryo with large, wide-open eyes. It looked at me with an infinitely profound look, full of peace. It was almost smiling, and without moving its lips I felt it speaking to me. It gave me to understand that it was looking forward to coming to me, to being born and to lie in my arms. This unborn child looked at me for a long time, and its eyes were full of love... When my daughter had been born, she opened her eyes and looked at me, and it was the same look, the same eyes which had looked at me in my dream..." (From Chapter 1.)
We live in a world characterized by intolerance, war, environmental degradation and economic collapse. In contrast, might it be possible to build a society in which tolerance, love and peace are the abiding principles? In this positive and inspiring book Danielle van Dijk shows how, beginning with our personal development, we can contribute to such a new, transformed world. She describes how we can develop a universal spiritual consciousness - what she refers to as 'Christ Consciousness'.
Practical and Spiritual Guidance on Death and Dying
Based on the Work of Rudolf Steiner
• Nicholas Wijnberg • Philip Martyn
When faced with the prospect of death - one's own or someone else's - there is often little time to prepare. This compact booklet is written for anyone who has to deal with death and needs information quickly. It is also for those who wish to be ready in advance. Crossing the Threshold presents a wealth of easily-digestible guidance - both practical and spiritual - on all aspects of death and dying.
An Esoteric Study of the Festivals Revised Second Edition
• Sergei 0. Prokofieff
Although many pagan groups still celebrate festivals as part of the cycle of the year, it seems that a truly Christian knowledge of the connections between festivals and the seasons has begun to fade. How can we rebuild a relationship to the yearly cycle which does not rely on old traditions a connection which is at once truly spiritual and right for modern times?
T.H. Meyer's acclaimed biography traces Dunlop's destiny from his childhood on the Isle of Arran to his close work with Rudolf Steiner and the Anthroposophical Movement.
Recipes based on biodynamic ingredients from the kitchen of the Lukas Klinik.
• Hermann Spindler
"The aims of biodynamics are to produce food which nourishes the whole human being and to practise an agriculture which enhances the earth’s future..." "The specific qualities and characteristics of Demeter produce contribute to a form of nutrition which enhances vitality and promotes inner life." - Nikolai Fuchs, Agriculture Section, Goetheanum, Switzerland.
Genetic manipulation, industrial methods of agricultural production and disregard for natural laws have all led in recent times to growing public concern about the safety of food. As a result, there is a corresponding growth of interest in organic methods of farming. Biodynamic agriculture, founded by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s, is a further development of the organic approach, using special preparations - which work in harmony with cosmic and earthly forces - to enrich the soil and enliven food.
• Warren Lee Cohen • Illustrated by John M. Ssebulime
"This is a tale of bravery and bread One of delight, of daring and dread In which I befriend our dear Princess Alice And help her to save this wonderful palace..."
Part 1: The Teachings of Agni Yoga in the Light of Christian Esotericism Part 2: The Teachings of Alice Bailey in the Light of Christian Esotericism Part 3: The Birth of Christian Esotericism in the Twentieth Century and the Occult Powers that Oppose it
• Sergei O. Prokofieff
This major work comprises a comprehensive study of Eastern and Western esoteric streams and the occult powers that stand behind them. In Part 1 Prokofieff discusses the spiritual movement of Agni Yoga, presented to the world by Helena Roerich and her husband, the painter Nicholas Roerich. Part 2 focuses on the teachings developed by Alice Bailey, whilst Part 3 considers the relationship between Eastern and Western spiritual masters and the occult streams they represent.
In our everyday lives, we are constantly challenged by the phenomenon of evil in all its many manifestations. But how can we cope with this seemingly eternal hindrance?
Prokofieff develops and expands Rudolf Steiner's indications on Novalis' incarnations, leading the reader to an understanding of his crucial future mission amongst humanity.
Seddon considers Europe from the point-of-view of the rulerships of the various Archangels of Time from Michael's regency between the mid-sixth and the third century BC, up to his present rulership between 1879 and the twenty-second century.
During the Christmas Conference of 1923-24 when the Anthroposophical Society was refounded, Rudolf Steiner presented to its members for the first time the Foundation Stone Meditation. On consecutive days during that week he showed how elements of the Meditation could be rebuilt into new meditations - sometimes referred to as 'rhythms' - which could be inwardly practised. Zeylmans van Emmichoven was present at that formative meeting, and lived intensively with these 'rhythms' for more than 30 years. He started speaking about them publicly at a time when they were virtually forgotten. Initially in the Netherlands, and later during his extensive journeys around the world, Zeylmans began to make people aware of the germinating forces contained within the Meditation. This volume bears the fruit of his work on this theme. It remains a seminal book which has been an inspiration to generations of students of anthroposophy.
Meditative reflection - the strengthening of thinking and feeling through the will - is one of the main methods of experiencing Anthroposophy. "The best path to this goal", says Sergei Prokofieff, "is inner work with the Foundation Stone Meditation, because this meditation is the quintessence of the whole of Anthroposophy, given in meditatively inspired form by means of earthly words."
The conception of freedom today is increasingly connected to the realms of economics, politics, religion, and so on. But what really is freedom in its essence, and does it have a spiritual aspect?
Christianity as the Essence of Humanity in Rudolf Steiner's Science of the Spirit
• Pietro Archiati
Pietro Archiati reaches beyond the earthly traditions and cultural expressions of Christianity to its true spiritual essence. His survey takes us from the history of an "all-too-human" Christianity to the history of actual "Christian" Christianity and its future development through a new scientific approach to the spirit.
The spiritual teacher Rudolf Steiner referred to the period of time encompassing the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the new millennium as one of great spiritual struggle. Forces of destruction would wage war against forces of good, and the future of culture and civilization would depend on the outcome. In his many statements on the matter, he directed words of warning in particular to members of the Anthroposophical Society and movement. They would be called upon to develop spiritual qualities which would be crucial to the furtherance of human development.
Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian-born philosopher and spiritual scientist, systematically cultivated methods of spiritual vision and research, which enabled him to investigate the course of human evolution. Steiner described how the thoughts and deeds of the hierarchies of spiritual beings are discernible in the dimensions of soul and spirit. Under certain conditions, it is possible for an initiate who has developed special capacities, to grasp what these beings are actively preparing for the future. This was achieved especially by St John in his Book of Revelation, and likewise by Rudolf Steiner throughout his many years of spiritual research and teaching.
Treating Chronic Physical and Mental Illness with Mineral Remedies
• Dr Peter Grunewald
Presenting far-reaching new therapeutic research, Peter Grunewald examines the underlying spiritual aspects of constitutional treatment using medicines taken from the mineral kingdom. This constitutional approach, used in the treatment of chronic physical, neurological, developmental, emotional, behavioural and mental conditions and illnesses, centres on a system of nine minerals. Grunewald traces these nine substances on their paths through the human organism, and demonstrates their indications, effects and interactions. He also develops a spiritual and alchemistic understanding of the working of these substances, based on anthroposophical medical research.
Taking a radical departure from the usual comparative study of religion, Pietro Archiati shows that the various religions represent stages in each individual's path of development. In this sense the Great Religions create an absolute unity - not in what they say or teach, but in their contribution to each of us becoming ever more human. As Archiati says: 'The essence of a religion is in what it makes of a human being. And the actual unity of all religions is the creative product they have combined to make, namely the human being himself as the synthesis of all the religious paths which he has trodden in the course of his long evolution.'
Rhythmical Einreibungen are gentle, rhythmical forms of therapeutic massage used by nurses, carers and therapists working out of anthroposophy. (The word 'Einreibung’ refers to the application of an oil or ointment to the body.) The methods - developed by Dr Ita Wegman and Dr Margarethe Hauschka at the beginning of the twentieth century - were first used exclusively in medicine and nursing, but have since been applied more widely in care and nursing homes, hospitals and clinics, as well as in curative education and social therapy.
A practical guide based on anthroposophic medicine
• Lueder Jachens
Our skin is the visible barrier between what is inside and outside of our bodies. It can respond with sensitivity to tender contact, allowing us to experience pleasure, or, should harmful influences come to bear, it can contract or erupt, causing pain. The increasing prevalence in recent years of various types of skin conditions is an indication of the fact that toxic influences are on the increase.
Based on the author's own experience of the supersensible being who stands behind the science of the spirit known as Anthroposophy, The Heavenly Sophia is the culmination of 25 years of work by Sergei Prokofieff on Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual impulse. The being Anthroposophia, he shows, is not a poetic image or an abstract concept, but is an actual spiritual entity who works in the higher worlds for the good of earthly evolution, bringing to humanity "...the new revelation of the heavenly Sophia, the divine wisdom".
The School of Spiritual Science, together with its individual sections, was founded by Rudolf Steiner at the Christmas Conference of 1923-4 with the intention, in his own words, of presenting 'the esoteric aspect'. It was intended to have three classes, but only the First Class was instituted before Rudolf Steiner's death in 1925.
Siegloch describes Maier-Smits' early exposure to Anthroposophy; her training under Rudolf Steiner from 1912; the first performance of eurythmy during the Theosophical Society festival in 1913; Rudolf Steiner's lectures on the new art of movement; the staging of eurythmy under the direction of Marie Steiner; and Maier-Smits' later work as a trainer of eurythmists.
Novalis, born Friedrich von Hardenberg, was the most significant representative of German romanticism at the end of the eighteenth century. A true contemporary of the approaching scientific age, he excelled not only as a poet, writer, religious thinker and philosopher, but also as an enthusiastic student of science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, medicine, mineralogy and mining - even working as an inspector of coal pits.
"The contents of this volume have arisen from my own spiritual experience, and do not represent any kind of hypothesis or speculation, except where I expressly say that I am unable to make any definitive statement about a particular event or set of circumstances..." - Judith von Halle
• Rudolf Steiner • With 52 Pictures by Anne Stockton
Rudolf Steiner’s beautiful meditative verses for the yearly cycle have been used by countless people over the years. Their purpose is to awaken a feeling of unity with nature, and at the same time to stimulate a discovery of self. In listening to the changing language of the year and awakening a profound sympathy for it, we can in turn discover our own individual nature. Steiner’s original and unique meditations facilitate this process, leading to a healthy feeling of being at one with the natural world.
Intervals, Scales, Tones and the Concert Pitch c = 128 Hz
• Maria Renold
Why is it that certain intervals, scales and tones sound genuine and others false? Is the modern person able to experience a qualitative difference in a tone's pitch? If so, what are the implications for modern concert pitch and how instruments of fixed tuning are tuned?
Our world today is increasingly characterized by speed, movement and flux. There is often a lack of sufficient time to do 'what needs to be done', and life seems to be marked by change, upheaval and revolution. But in the midst of this turmoil, say the authors, people are having conscious and semiconscious experiences of the etheric world - the world that comprises the forces of life. However, this growing sensitivity to the etheric realm only intensifies experiences of movement and upheaval. To counter such feelings, we should take hold of our inner life and strengthen the 'I' - our true self.
Numerous great works have been created within the realm of Christian art, but none has received as much acclaim as Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. Art lovers venerate it for its composition and noble aesthetics, while for Christians it epitomises the intimate relationship between Christ and his disciples. In recent years it has also become the focus of intrigue, controversy and speculation, following the publication of some bestselling fictional narratives and questionable historical studies.
The artist was once a messenger of the gods. Breathing in, the Greek actor was lifted into a realm of thought and inspiration. And breathing out, the will was strengthened. Can modern actors again become messengers through their own power of description and dramatization?
'The contents of this volume have arisen from my own spiritual experience, and do not represent any kind of hypothesis or speculation, except where I expressly say that I am unable to make any definitive statement about a particular event or set of circumstances...'
Based on his experience of his own marriage of more than 50 years, Male and Female is Baruch Urieli's important contribution to the sociological and political minefield of gender studies. Taking a spiritual approach, Urieli shows how differences between male and female can be explained by the concept of 'complementary etheric bodies'. This differentiation creates a need for the opposite sex, enabling the ultimate creativity of procreation to take place. He describes all this in the context of marriage as an archetypal human relationship.
Van Manen presents the results of his own carefully considered thoughts on Marie Steiner's karmic past. In doing so, he links her to a well-known individuality connected with Aristotle in ancient Greece.
Staying fit, healthy and confident on entering a new phase of life
A practical guide based on anthroposophical medicine
• Eveline Daub-Amend • translated by Anna R. Meuss, FCIL
Change can be unwelcome, but it usually brings new opportunities and the possibility of a fresh start. When the great change of the menopause begins to make itself felt in the life of a woman, the subsequent loss of fertility and the signs that one is getting older can trigger a life and identity crisis. In this essential guide, written from the holistic perspective of anthroposophical medicine, Eveline Daub-Amend shows how this turning point in a woman’s biography can be a positive time of transformation: of entering a new phase of life with a fit and healthy body, mind and spirit. She discusses how symptoms can be treated using natural methods, and addresses emotional and psychological processes and changes.
The Challenge of Evil Today in the Light of Rudolf Steiners Science of the Spirit
• Bernard Nesfield-Cookson
In our materialistic and sceptical age many people find it difficult to take seriously the concept of spiritual beings. However, countless others - from the ancient founders of religions to those contemporaries who have had near-death experiences - have confirmed the reality of such entities from direct personal experience. These individuals have spoken of beings of Light - angels and archangels - and spirits of darkness - evil beings.
Preparing to Receive, Verifying and Confirming the Truth
• Irene Johanson
As with her previous work What the Angels Need to Tell Us Now, this book is divided into two parts. In the first section Irene Johanson gives valuable advice about the inner preparations necessary to receive angel messages in the proper way. She explains how to distinguish between the different kinds of spirits, and how to deal with information received from metaphysical entities - in particular knowing whether such information is genuine or not. She also gives advice about transforming our life of soul and the forces of thinking, feeling and will. In the second part of the book she presents more messages and information received from angels through her friend Agnes, an individual who represents a new kind of clairvoyance. Unlike mediumism or channelling, Agnes' method does not entail a dimming of consciousness, but has the character of clarity and wakefulness.
His musical style and his role in the development of human consciousness
• Brien Masters
On being introduced to the concept of evolving human consciousness, Brien Masters discovered that one could gain insight into the phenomenon by examining the musical styles of different composers. Following years of musical study and practice, he detected in the richness of Mozart's music a reflection of humanity's emerging consciousness of selfhood and individuality.
'We have shown how in the course of time the being who was present in Elijah appeared again at the most important moments of human evolution on Earth - appeared again so that Christ Jesus Himself could give him the initiation he was to receive for the evolution of mankind. For the being of Elijah reappeared in Lazarus-John - who are in truth one and the same figure...'
'We live today at a time when the full mystery of the Resurrection body can become manifest to human beings out of the inspirations of Michael... This was accomplished by Rudolf Steiner not just in a theoretical sense but also practically, and came about through the establishing of a path, accessible to all human beings, which leads to a union with the forces of the Resurrection body.' - Sergei O. Prokofieff (Chapter 1)
The Christian Gospels give two widely differing genealogies for Jesus, which have continued to baffle theologians throughout the centuries. Not only are these genealogies irreconcilable, but the stories of the two accounts of the birth of Jesus, as given by Matthew and Luke, are also radically different. How can this be accounted for?
According to the spiritual-scientific research of Rudolf Steiner, the greatest spiritual event of our time is the renewal and reawakening of the human being's supersensible relationship to higher spiritual worlds. The force that brings about this development - referred to by different names in various cultural and religious traditions - is known in spiritual science, in accordance with Christian terminology, as the 'Christ Impulse'.
A survey of recent history reveals a gloomy picture: an ongoing series of conflicts, wars and general turmoil. As a result of all this, the human emotional landscape has become littered with angry, bitter and vengeful feelings. The modern justice system, preoccupied as it is with finding and proving guilt, does little to remedy this tragic situation. However, many individuals and groups are seeking ways to break the never-ending cycle of recrimination.
From Patter-Paws the Fox and Sharp-Claws the Lobster to Lusty-Lion and Trusty Mouse, young children will find the animated animal characters in these stories enjoyable and inspiring. Together with the lively detailed and expressive illustrations of Brian Gold, the narrative content offers stimulus to the young child’s imagination and an encouragement to read.
An Introduction to the Fundamental Works of Rudolf Steiner
• Richard Seddon
'What was important for Steiner was less the body of his ideas themselves than the transformation they can bring about in the reader by opening the mind to the real nature of the spiritual world. Philosophy, properly regarded, is not the intellectual solution of abstract questions not being asked, but an activity that helps to resolve the questions which arise in the course of life itself. It must therefore itself become organically alive.' (From the Preface.)
More and more people are beginning to realize that education needs to continue throughout life. As individuals and collectively, we face the choice of either staying as we are, or striving constantly to develop.
Understanding a person's character through physiognomy
• Norbert Glas
As a boy travelling to school by tram, Norbert Glas often passed the time by studying his fellow passengers' faces. He would muse on what the shapes and contours of their noses, eyes and mouths signified. Later in life, having become a medical doctor and a student of Rudolf Steiner's spiritual-scientific world view, Glas gained numerous insights into the mysteries of human physiognomy. In this, the first translation into English of his seminal work, Glas begins by defining the three parts of the human face and explaining the importance of their relative proportions. A person with a face that is more pronounced in one of these areas will tend to have certain personality traits, as well as specific physiological characteristics. People with a strong mouth and chin, for example, tend to have a strong will and an active, driven and assertive nature.
Facts, Questions and Perspectives on September 11, 2001
• T.H. Meyer
Using the events of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor as his backdrop, T.H. Meyer studies questions of reality, truth and evil, offering important new perspectives. He shows that Anglo-American political practice (influenced by secret societies such as Skull and Bones) is based on an ideology of polarity and conflict. Meyer offers instances of this tendency, encouraging what Huntington famously referred to as a 'clash of civilizations’. For example, a week before George Bush senior spoke in Congress about the need for a 'new world order’, a 'humorous’ cartoon map in the Economist divided the world’s continents into religious and philosophical blocks, creating a new region called 'Islamistan’.
Archiati brings the concept of reincarnation to bear on many aspects of modern life, including such vexed issues as abortion and rape. He also addresses the question of whether reincarnation appears in the New Testament, and explains how we can understand theological problems such as Christ's Resurrection and the Resurrection of the body from this wider context.
and The Mystery of the Laying of the Foundation Stone
• Sergei O. Prokofieff
"It is my personal conviction that the question of our relationship to Rudolf Steiner is fundamental to the life of anthroposophy itself." - Sergei O. Prokofieff
What was Rudolf Steiner like in everyday life? How was he when lecturing? What was he like as a creative artist? These and many other questions are answered by Assya Turgeniev, one of Rudolf Steiner's most important co-workers, in this beautifully-written first-hand testimony.
In many ways, Rudolf Steiner is the forgotten genius of recent times. A powerful thinker, who developed an intricate spiritual philosophy based on his ability to research and perceive spiritual dimensions, Steiner is perhaps best known today for his legacy to education, medicine and agriculture. But behind these practical manifestations of his ideas lies a profound teaching, which he called a 'science of the spirit' or 'anthroposophy'. In these wonderfully succinct summaries of Steiner's thought, Roy Wilkinson introduces us to aspects of this spiritual philosophy.
Prokofieff investigates the deepest mysteries of Rudolf Steiner's life and individuality and examines the earthly and supersensible aspects of the first Goetheanum, the implications of the Christmas Conference of 1923-24, and the Foundation Stone meditation.
Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy, spent some five months of his life in Britain, visiting it ten times between the years 1902 and 1924. With the exception of German-speaking countries, the longest time Steiner spent abroad was in Britain, a place he clearly considered as central to his work.
The Birth and Development of Spiritual-Scientific Karma Research
• T.H. Meyer
Rudolf Steiner's core mission, repeatedly delayed due to the incapacity of colleagues, was to pursue contemporary spiritual-scientific research into the phenomena of reincarnation and karma. This stimulating book describes the winding biographical path this mission took, and in particular focuses on the mystery of Rudolf Steiner's connection with the influential medieval philosopher and theologian, Thomas Aquinas. Utilizing numerous archival sources and publications, Thomas Meyer reveals many facts relating to Steiner's core mission, and shows the critical roles played by Wilhelm Anton Neumann and Karl Julius Schröer in its genesis and development.
Giving an overview of how the spiritual hierarchies and Christ, the Lord of Karma, work in the ordering of human karma, Prokofieff leads us to the karma and mission of the Anthroposophical Society, indicating what must come about before the end of the century if this karmic mission is to be fulfilled.
The scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner discovered that besides 'ordinary' space there is 'negative' space, or 'counterspace', which relates to a holistic conception of the world. Steiner suggested that it was important to understand counterspace as a necessary supplement to the conventional approach. His colleague George Adams found a way of describing counterspace through mathematics.
The Two Marys, the Two Families of Jesus, and the Incarnation of Christ
• Gilbert Childs
For many years theologians have agonized over the contradictory accounts of the birth of Jesus as given in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. How can they be reconciled, given their utterly different nature and contents? Demonstrating a remarkably erudite approach and authoritative knowledge of biblical sources and other primary texts, Gilbert Childs throws new light on arcane disputes by revealing some of the secrets of esoteric Christianity - in particular the mystery of the two Marys and the two families of Jesus. Such secrets, including the meaning of the 'virginal conception’, have lain hidden and protected in Mystery Centres and by initiates over the ages, although in modern times they can be spoken of openly.
The contents of this volume have arisen from my own spiritual experience, and do not represent any kind of hypothesis or speculation, except where I expressly say that I am unable to make any definitive statement about a particular event or set of circumstances...
Sexuality, partnership and marriage present us with some of the most difficult challenges and questions of our time. With society's attitudes in constant flux, some of these questions appear to be almost unanswerable. What is a healthy relationship? What role should a partner - whether male or female - play? How should sexuality play into a relationship? Are marriage and monogamy still relevant in the twenty-first century?
The Occult Significance of the 12 Years 1933-45 in the Light of Spiritual Science
• Jesaiah Ben-Aharon • Revised Second Edition
Utilising strict spiritual-scientific methods of research, Jesaiah Ben-Aharon gives an astonishing first-hand testimony of Rudolf Steiner's declarations regarding the new Christ Revelation, and offers his own findings on the Spiritual Event of the Twentieth Century. Based on occult Imaginative consciousness, he gives a unique account of events which took place in the spiritual world during the period of war and turmoil on earth between 1933-45.
This momentous work, breathtaking in its scope and detail, reveals the deeper causes of Eastern Europe's turbulent past, and exposes the attempts to subvert the true destiny of the East-Slavic people by materialistic western Brotherhoods, Jesuits, and the occult stream of Bolshevism. Genuine, first-rate, spiritual-scientific research.
What is to become of the family? What is to become of the home, which has been the foundation of society for centuries? Will it disintegrate - or can it be refounded in a new way?
Understanding Children who set us Special Tasks and Challenges
• Georg Kühlewind
"While working on this book the following happened to me: As I checked in at the airport in Hamburg a young couple was in front of me, and the mother had a three-to-four-month old baby in her arms. All of a sudden the baby turned round, looked me straight in the eye, and I was deeply shaken; for that was not the look of a baby but of a very self-aware adult, a wise one, and he appeared to see right through me..."
Stigmata - the spontaneous appearance of bodily marks in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ - have long been a controversial phenomenon. Former well-known stigmatics, such as Saint Francis of Assisi, Anne Catherine Emmerich and Therese Neumann, have mostly been associated with the Catholic Church. Judith von Halle however, who received the stigmata at Passiontide in 2004, is a member of the Anthroposophical Society, and has to date published a dozen notable volumes of spiritual-scientific research.
Whether souls have returned in physical incarnations as Platonists, as Aristotelians, as pupils of Chartres, as members of the Dominican Order, as Templars, as Cathars, or whether these souls accompany us as spiritual beings, a stream of spiritual continuity that begins in the Middle Ages flows through human history.
'Destiny Learning', a path of adult education conceived and developed by Coenraad van Houten (based on the work of Rudolf Steiner), is here expanded to show a threefold way of working with karma: understanding, transforming and ordering. This threefold approach opens new vistas for healing relationships and conflicts, for developing creative faculties for community building, and for taking initiatives based on freedom. The author widens and deepens his previous work on the theme, showing that learning from destiny, as well as awakening the forces of will, are ongoing processes. He offers practical advice that is directly applicable to everyday life.
As Evelyn Capel demonstrates, the parables grow from age to age as human consciousness develops, revealing as little or as much as we are able and ready to hear.
Six Lectures on Occult Science, Theosophy, and the Catholic Faith
• C. G. Harrison
C.G. Harrison, a mysterious and unknown figure, examines Theosophy from an esoteric Christian standpoint and separates the true gnosis from the false. With great personal courage he makes public esoteric knowledge that had remained hidden within the occult orders.
Written in the years immediately following the Second World War, this brief booklet is a powerful meditation on evil and its eventual transformation. Focusing on the realm of 'sub-nature' or 'the subterranean spheres', Gleich shows how the various layers of the earth's interior are intimately linked with the mystery of evil.
Individuals, groups and organizations find themselves in a process of continual change, transformation and growth. Margarete van den Brink suggests all people, whether individually or in groups, experience the same archetypal process of development, consisting of seven steps. Giving practical examples, she describes how these steps or phases can be recognized in individuals, in relationships and groups, and even in commercial and voluntary organizations. A knowledge of the various steps allows for clarity and vision, helping to prepare for the sorts of challenges and rewards we might face.
Ancient and Modern Spiritual Paths and the Mystery of Rennes-le-Château
• Sylvia Francke
Recent works of fiction and popular history have promoted the idea that the Holy Grail symbolizes a physical bloodline resulting from the union of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. This, supposedly, is the 'secret' that esoteric movements have kept tirelessly for the past 2,000 years. From her groundbreaking research, Sylvia Francke exposes this notion to be a blatant misinterpretation of the mystery traditions that preceded and ran parallel to the birth of Christianity. She traces the ancient spiritual paths of knowledge from the Cathars, the Knights Templar and the enigmatic Rosicrucians, to the work of Rudolf Steiner in the twentieth century. Here, she concludes, is true Grail knowledge: the Tree of Life and the Holy Grail itself explained in their metaphysical context. From her research she suggests a solution to the riddle of the sudden wealth and strange behaviour of Bérenger Saunière, the mysterious priest of Rennes-le-Château in southern France.
Following on from his popular first reader Patter-Paws the Fox, Brien Masters presents us with twelve further stories for school children. This time, however, his exuberant tales are related more closely to the modern, urban experience of the town-dweller. We are introduced to many new and delightful characters, both animal and human, such as Rory the guide-dog and his master Scotty, Trevor the puzzled postman, Wriggly-Caterpillar, and Fudge-fed Bee. Once again, the narratives are complemented by the inspiring illustrations of Brian Gold.
Rudolf Steiner argued that the primary function of education is to exercise pupils' faculties of thinking, feeling and willing. These basic human qualities manifest in civilization as the "eternal verities" of truth, beauty and goodness, and these in turn in science, art and religion.
Prokofieff draws on the whole extent of Rudolf Steiner's work and combines it with his own original spiritual research to form an intricate picture of the cosmic forces at play between Christmas and Epiphany. We are led on a tour through the circle of the zodiac and spiritual hierarchies, and shown how they form a path from Jesus to Christ. The author further explains that the Starry Script is a key to anthroposophical Christology, and shows how it relates to the conception of the First Goetheanum. Prokofieff guides us imaginatively through the interior of Steiner's architectural masterpiece, destroyed by fire in 1922, whose structure and decorations are seen to constitute a coherent esoteric map. Our task now, he suggests, is to build the First Goetheanum in ourselves and, through a new schooling of the self, strive for a truly modern path of initiation. Supplementary essays focus on the cosmic aspects of Sophia as well as the being of Michael.
A Celebration of Rudolf Steiner's book The Philosophy of Freedom
• Karen Swassjan
Swassjan's sparkling humour, wit and lively style spill over every page, making this a thoroughly unique discourse on Rudolf Steiner's book The Philosophy of Freedom. His brilliant insight and comprehensive scholarship will ensure that your attention is engaged to the very end.
Valentin Tomberg was for many years a strong proponent of the science of spirit, anthroposophy, founded by Rudolf Steiner. He became prominent as a lecturer and writer, but in 1945 turned away from anthroposophy and converted to Roman Catholicism, authoring two influential Catholic texts. Nevertheless, a number of Tomberg's modern-day followers have maintained that he remained faithful to esoteric Christianity and Rudolf Steiner.
Unlike other works on this theme, Sergei Prokofieff's short book is not a straightforward introduction. Presupposing an acquaintance with the basic principles of anthroposophy, it focuses instead on the central Christological insights which form the core of Rudolf Steiner's philosophy.
Receiving, Considering and Acting on their Messages
• Irene Johanson
"When an angel wants to be perceived he fixes his eyes on me. It feels the same as when a person stares at you. You look up from your book or your work and look in the direction from which the stare is coming. I am aware there is someone in the room, but I do not know, before I turn round, whether it is an angel, three angels, my dead father, my son's teacher or someone else. The presence can be felt, like the presence of a bodily human being... Once, an archangel was present. The air gets so dense, so full, it makes you afraid. You have the feeling you are being overwhelmed, you are not able to breathe any more..."
For years a popular debate has been raging about whether Shakespeare really was the author of the many famous plays and poems published in his name. Shakespeare could not have accomplished this great feat, argue the doubters, and point instead to other well-known figures. Who Wrote Bacon? offers a completely new perspective, examining afresh the evidence to hand, and introducing unexplored aspects of Rudolf Steiner's spiritual-scientific research. The author discusses Shakespeare’s life as an actor, riddles of the debate such as the enigmatic Psalm 46, and the persistent question of Francis Bacon's connection with Shakespeare.
Rather than trying to prove that we are free, Wember describes a path which can enable us to become free. This freedom, unrelated to political or other forms of outer freedom, depends on inner activity. We can only become free, he argues, if we enliven our forces of will.
Born in Holland in 1893, Zeylmans van Emmichoven was one of the original pioneers of anthroposophy, the science of spirit established by Rudolf Steiner. As General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in the Netherlands, he worked closely with Steiner. A medical doctor and founder of the Rudolf Steiner Clinic in Scheveningen, he also conducted important research into the influence of colours, the psychology of peoples and nations, and individual human psychology.
